MANILA, Philippines—Boxing champion and politician Manny Pacquiao has thrown the first punch against Roy Chiongbian, his opponent for the lone district of Sarangani province in the 2010 elections.

Pacquiao’s local political party, People’s Champ Movement (PCM), recently filed a petition at the Commission on Elections to disqualify Chiongbian on the ground that he is not a resident of the province and that he entered false information in his election papers.

Pacquiao, who last month wrested the welterweight crown from Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, is party president of PCM, which was founded in 2008 in General Santos City.

“It is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to deny due course and cancel the Certificate of Candidacy of Respondent Roy L. Chiongbian, for member, House of Representatives, representing the province of Sarangani,” the three-page petition read.

PCM said Chiongbian has not lived in Purok 1, Barangay Kling, Kiamba, Sarangani as he stated in his certificate of candidacy.

Chiongbian’s Sarangani address “was used and abused for election purposes only. Respondent could hardly be seen thereat,” the petition said.

It also included an affidavit of former Kiamba mayor and PCM secretary-general Raul Martinez, who said that Chiongbian arrived in the town only last June.

“Respondent made a material misrepresentation in his COC to make it appear that he met the residence requirement for the position he is running for,” the PCM said.

Furthermore, PCM pointed out that Chiongbian’s real residence is in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City as it noted that the candidate has a “huge business interest” in Metro Manila.

The PCM said Chiongbian holds executive positions in Eastern International Plastic Packaging, Eastern Shipping Lines Inc., and Japri Container Terminal Inc., all of which are located in the city.

Chiongbian, 60, is part of a political clan in Sarangani. His brother Edwin is the current representative of the province and his parents used to be governors.

The campaign to represent Sarangani in the House of Representative is Pacquiao’s second venture into politics. In the 2007 national elections, the boxing champion ran for congressman representing General Santos City, but lost to the incumbent representative.